Examination of Exercise Addiction and Mental Strength Levels of Students of Sport Sciences Faculty

This study aims to examine the exercise addiction and mental strength levels of students at the Sports Sciences Faculty, according to various variables. In this study designed according to quantitative research model, relational survey method was used. There were 248 participants in the study. "Personal Information Form", "Exercise Addiction Scale" (EAS) and "Mental Strength in Sport Inventory" (MSSI) were applied to the participants. T-test, One Way ANOVA, Post Hoc test statistics tests and Pearson Correlation test were used for data analysis. According to research findings, it was found that participants’ general exercise addiction levels were in the risk group and their mental strength levels were above the middle level. In the research, a high positively significant difference was found between the sub-dimensions of "too much focus and emotion change", "postponement of individual-social needs and conflict", "tolerance development" and "passion”, and "trust" subdimension; a moderate negatively significant difference was found between the sub-dimensions of "too much focus and emotion change", "postponement of individual-social needs and conflict", "tolerance development" and "passion”, "continuity" sub-dimension; a moderate negatively significant difference was found between the sub-dimensions of "too much focus and emotion change", "postponement of individual-social needs and conflict", "tolerance development" and "passion”, and "control" sub-dimension. Consequently, a significant relationship was found between exercise addiction and mental strength levels. The level of exercise dependence and mental resilience levels of the students of the sports sciences faculty did not differ significantly according to their age, department and monthly income; According to women, when the first class participants postpone their individual needs for exercise and they cannot wait more to do exercise, the risk of exercise addiction is higher with the 1st class participants giving themselves to exercise when they feel bad compared to 2nd grade and they recovered physically faster. It was concluded that the participants’ mental strength level differed according to gender and class, but there was no significant difference in terms of doing regular sports.